an autobiography-第19节
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。 As soon as the clouds of dust had been dispersed； he observed； under the place where the iron box had stood； a number of skeletons of rats； as dry as mummies。 He selected one of these；* ＇footnote。。。 I was so much impressed with the events of the day； and also with the fact of the young artist having taken with him so repulsive a memento as a rat's skeleton； that I never forgot it。 More than half century later； when I was at a private view of the Royal Academy； I saw sitting on one of the sofas a remarkable and venerable…looking old gentleman。 On inquiring of my friend Thomas Webster who he was； he answered； 〃Why； that's old Linnell！〃 I then took the liberty of sitting down beside him； and； apologising for my intrusion on his notice； I said it was just fifty…seven years since I had last seen him！ I mentioned the circumstance of the rat…skeleton which he had put in his pocket at Edinburgh。 He was pleased and astonished to have the facts so vividly recalled to his mind。 At last he said； 〃Well； I have that mummy rat； the relic of the Heart of Midlothian； safe in a cabinet of curiosities in my house at Redhill to this day。〃 。。。＇ wrapped it in a newspaper and put it in his pocket as a recollection of his first day in Edinburgh； and of the final destruction of the 〃Heart of Midlothian。〃 This artist was no other than John Linnell； the afterwards famous landscape painter。 He was then a young and unknown man。 He brought a letter of introduction to my father。 He also brought a landscape as a specimen of his young efforts； and it was so splendidly done that my father augured a brilliant career for this admirable artist。
I had the pleasure of seeing Sir Waiter Scott on another and； to me； a very memorable occasion。 From an early period of my schoolboy days I had a great regard for every object that had reference to bygone times。 They influenced my imagination； and conjured up in my mind dreamy visions of the people of olden days。 It did not matter whether it was an old coin or an old castle。 took pleasure in rambling about the old castles near Edinburgh； many of them connected with the times of Mary Queen of Scots。 Craigmillar Castle was within a few miles of the city； there was also Crighton Castle； and above all Borthwick Castle。 This grand massive old ruin left a deep impression on my mind。 The sight of its gloomy interior； with the great hall lighted up only by stray glints of sunshine； as if struggling for access through the small deep…seated windows in its massive walls； together with its connection with the life and times of Queen Mary； had a far greater influence upon my mind than I experienced while standing amidst the Coliseum at Rome。
Like many earnest…minded boys； I had a severe attack at the right time of life； say from 12 to 15； of what I would call 〃the collecting period。〃 This consisted； in my case； of accumulating old coins； perhaps one of the most salutary forms of this youthful passion。 I made exchanges with my school companions。 Sometimes my father's friends； seeing my anxiety to improve my collection gave me choice specimens of bronze and other coins of the Roman emperors； usually duplicates from their own collection。
These coins had the effect of promoting my knowledge of Roman history。 I read up in order to find out the acts and deeds of the old rulers of the civilised world。 Besides collecting the coins； I used to make careful drawings of the obverse and reverse faces of each in an illustrated catalogue which I kept in my little coin cabinet。
I remember one day； when sitting beside my father making a very careful drawing of a fine bronze coin of Augustus； that Sir Walter Scott entered the room。 He frequently called upon my father in order to consult him with respect to his architectural arrangements。 Sir Walter caught sight of me； and came forward to look over the work I was engaged in。 At his request I had the pleasure of showing him my little store of coin treasures； after which he took out of his waistcoat pocket a beautiful silver coin of the reign of Mary Queen of Scots； and gave it to me as being his 〃young brother antiquarian。〃 I shall never forget the kind fatherly way in which he presented it。 I considered it a great honour to be spoken to in so friendly a way by such a man； besides； it vastly enriched my little collection of coins and medals。
It was in the year 1817 that I had the pleasure； never to be forgotten； of seeing the great engineer； James Watt。 He was then close upon his eighty…second year。 His visit to Edinburgh was welcomed by the most distinguished scientific and literary men of the city。 My father had the honour of meeting him at a dinner given by the Earl of Buchan； at his residence in George Street。 There were present； Sir James Hall； President of the Royal Society； Francis Jeffrey； Editor of the Edinburgh Review； Walter Scott； still the Great Unknown； and many other distinguished notabilities。 The cheerful old man delighted them with his kindly talk； as well as astonished them with the extent and profundity of his information。
On the following day Mr。 Watt paid my father a visit he carefully examined his artistic and other works。 Having inspected with great pleasure some landscape paintings of various scenes in Scotland executed by my sisters； who were then highly efficient artists； he purchased a specimen of each； as well as three landscapes painted by my father； as a record of his pleasant visit to the capital of his native country。 I well remember the sight I then got of the Great Engineer。 I had just returned from the High School when he was leaving my father's house。 It was but a glimpse I had of him。 But his benevolent countenance and his tall but bent figure made an impression on my mind that I can never forget。 It was even something to have seen for a few seconds so truly great and noble a man。
I did not long continue my passion for the collection of coins； I felt a greater interest in mechanical pursuits。 I have a most cherished and grateful remembrance of the happy hours and days that I spent in my father's workroom。 When the weather was cold or wet ；he took refuge with his lathe and tools； and there I followed and watched him。 He took the greatest pleasure in instructing me。 Even in the most humble mechanical job he was sure to direct my attention to the action of the tools and to the construction of the work he had in hand； and pointed out the manipulative processes requisite for its being effectually carried out。 My hearty zeal in assisting him was well rewarded by his implanting in my mind the great fundamental principles on which the practice of engineering in its grandest forms is based。 But I did not learn this all at once。 It came only gradually； and by dint of constant repetition and inculcation。 In the meantime I made a beginning by doing some little mechanical work on my own account。
While attending the High School； from 1817 to 1820； there was the usual rage amongst boys for spinning…tops； 〃peeries；〃 and 〃young cannon。〃 By means of my father's excellent foot…lathe I turned out the spinning…tops in capital style； so much so that I be came quite noted amongst my school companions。 They all wanted to have specimens of my productions。 They would give any price for them。 The peeries were turned with perfect accuracy； and the steel shod； or spinning pivot； was centred so as to correspond exactly with the axis of the top。 They could spin twice as long as the bought peeries。 When at full speed they would 〃sleep；〃 that is； revolve without the slightest waving。 This was considered high art as regarded top…spinning。
Flying…kites and tissue paper balloons were articles that I was somewhat famed for producing。 There was a good deal of special skill required for the production of a flying…kite。 It must be perfectly still and steady when at its highest flight in the air。 Paper messengers were sent up to it along the string which held it to the ground。 The top of the Calton Hill was the most favourite place for enjoying this pleasant amusement。
Another article for which I became equally famous was the manufacture of small brass cannon。 These I cast and bored； and mounted on their appropriate gun…carriages。 They proved very effective； especially in the loudness of the report when fired。 I also converted large cellar…keys into a sort of hand…cannon。 A touch…hole was bored into the barrel of the key； with a sliding brass collar that allowed the key…guns to be loaded and primed and ready for firing。 The principal occasion on which the brass cannon and hand…guns were used was on the 4th of JuneKing George the Thirds birthday。 This was always celebrated with exuberant and noisy loyalty。 The guns of the Castle were fired at noon； and the number of shots corresponded with the number of years that the king had reigned。 The grand old Castle was enveloped in smoke； and the discharges reverberated along the streets and among the surrounding hills。 Everything was in holiday order。 The coaches were hung with garlands； the shops were ornamented； the troops were reviewed on Bruntsfield Links； and the citizens drank the king's health at the Gross； throwing the glasses over their shoulders。 The boys fired off gunpowder； or t
